Lecture 24: Microbial Processes Flashcards
What is a biofilm?
A thin coating of bacteria, algae or fungi on a solid surface submerged
What do Extracellular Polysaccharides allow for?
Bacteria to stick to the surface of a submerged solid
What is the difference between a biofilm and a microbial mat?
A biofilm is usually a thin layer made of only one type of species whereas a mat is usually much thicker
Where do we usually find microbial mats?
Places that are too extreme for other forms of life like hot springs or salty places because they don’t get eaten
What is a Stromatolite?
When Microbial Mats get fossilized
What makes Stromatolites reactive?
They’re small so they have a large surface area and they produce EPS
What part of the Cell makes microbes sticky and reactive?
The EPS
What is meant by microbes being reactive?
The carboxyl groups on them deprotonate giving them a net negative charge allowing positive ions to stick to it
What is the Bioremediation industry based on?
The idea that microbes are reactive
What is Biosorption?
The process whereby microbial biomass acts as a surface upon which toxic metals and radionuclides are passively absorbed and/or complexed
What is Bioaccumulation?
The metabolic processes used by living biomass in which physiologically important metal ions are absorbed by cells
What are the features of microbes that make them good for bioremediation?
Large surface area, everywhere, super reactive
What is Biomineralization?
When microorganisms grow minerals
What are the two types of Biomineralization?
Biologically induced biomineralization and Biologically controlled biomineralization
What are the characteristics of Biologically Induced Biomineralization?
There is no regulatory control and the biominerals form as incidental by-products due to the activity of the microorganisms and their surrounding environment
